R d lacoe



Nov. 17, 1936. R. D. LACOE 2,061,079

AUTOMATIC IGNITION CUT-OUT APPARATUS FOR GAS ENGINES Filed Oct. 26, 1934INVENTOR. Pa/ /7 D. [0602 FIG. 2 p

BY wwg ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEAUTOMATIC IGNITION CUTOUT APPA- RATUS FGR GAS My invention relates to anautomatic ignition cutout'apparatus for gas engines, and the objects ofmy invention are:

First, to provide an apparatus for automati cally cutting out theignition, thus preventing the loss of current when the engine stops sothat there is no drainage on the battery from the ignition when theengine is not in operation;

Second, to provide an apparatus of this class which operatesautomatically-by vacuum release from the intake manifold of the gasengine;

'I'hird, to provide an apparatus of this class which is controlled bythe conventional switch mechanism for starting the gas engine andis l5applicable for operation with the conventional starter;

Fourth, to provide an apparatus or" this class which is not affected bythe back fire from the gas engine;

Fifth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which the vacuumpressure is substantially con stant and will operate effectively whenthe vacuum is low, for instance, when operating under full throttle; and

Sixth, to provide an apparatus of this class which is very simple andeconomical of construction, easy to operate, efficient in its action,and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction, combine-'tion and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims,ref-'- erence being had to the accompanying drawing and to thecharactersof reference thereon which form a part of this application, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of my apparatus showingparts and portions broken away and in section to facilitate theillustration and. showing diagrammatically certain portions thereof, andFig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view through 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portionsthroughout the several views of the drawing.

The vacuum tank I, valve seatand connection The vacuum tank 9 is of anyshape or form desired. In this case I have shown it cylindrical in form.It is constructed to withstand the vacuum pressure from the gas engine.It is provided with an extended skirt portion la which extendsdownwardly adapted to form a shield or guard for the switch controlapparatus. It is provided in its upper endwith a connector member 2which is screw threaded therein by means of threads 2a. This connectormember is provided with an enlarged portion 22) forming a shoulder 20upon which rests the ball 3 which. together with the shoulder 20 forms avalvewhich prevents back pressure into the vacuum tank. IE in case theengine backfires. This con nector member 2 connects with a conductor 4which extends to the intake manifold of the gas engine for providingvacuum pressure in the tank 5 and it is connected by means of a comductor connection 5 which is of any conventional type for securing theconductor 4 to the connector 2.

The tank l is provided with a small vent open= ing lb which is smallenough so that under ordinary operation of the engine it does notmaterially aflect the vacuum but when the engine is closed off and doesnot operate sufllcient air will be admitted through the opening lb torelease the vacuum control of the ignition. Mounted centrally in thelower side 01 the tank I is a connector 6a which is screw threaded intosaid tank and this connector 8a is provided with a contact support 6which is substantially U-shaped, as shown best in Fig. l of the drawing.

Secured to the normally lower side of the member 6a is a connector lawhich is screw threaded and adapted to fit into the connector 6a and isprovided with a bore lb which is adapted to communicate with theinterior of the vacuum tank I. Secured to this member la is a diaphragmmember 1 which is preferably a. corrugated diaphragm to provide greatflexibility, it being noted that this diaphragm i is stationary as it issecured rigidly to the tank I. Connected with this diaphragm l isanother similar diaphragm 8 in opposed relation thereto, both of whichare shown best in Fig. 2, and they connect at their periphery by meansof a diaphragm connecting member 9 which is secured over the edge ofthis periphery and forms a sealed joint between the two edges and alsoprovides additional flexibility in the joint. Secured to this diaphragmmember 8 is the contact support I0 which is preferably U-shaped, asshown, and provided with a contact member Illa on its one end which isadapted to contact with a contact member 6b mounted on the contactsupport 6. The other end of the support III is supported on thediaphragm 8 by means of an insulated member lllb, shown best in Fig. 2of the drawing. Between the diaphragm member I and the connector 6athere is provided a flller 'Ic which forms a close Joint around themember Ia so that there will be no leakage at this point. The contact-6bis supported on the contact support 6 by means of a member 80 secured toan insulated 7 member 6d which is secured on the support 6,

thus providing means of insulating the contact 8b from the support 8.

Connected with the support III is a battery II by means of an electricalconnector Ila and this battery is connected with a ground I lb through aconductor llc. Connecting with the member 6c is an electrical conductor8e which extends to the switch I! which is a conventional switch, andthis switch I! connects with an ignition coil I3 through the conductorI3a. The switch l2, ignition coil I3, battery and ground are allconventional type of ignition system for gas engines.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: When the engine i operatingby being started with the starter, vacuum pressure is provided in I anddraws pressure outwardly through the intake manifold the valve 3 closesthe opening and does not permit the pressure to enter the vacuum tank.When the engine is operating normally, vacuum operates on the diaphragm8, contracts the same and closes the contacts 6b and Illa and theignition is on at all times. However, if the engine stops, the vacuum isreduced and the diaphragm draws the contact support l outwardly andopens the points Illa and 8b cutting out the ignition and thus stoppinganydrainage on the battery.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combinationand arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited tothis particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire toinclude in the scope of my invention the construction, com

bination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic ignition cutout apparatus for gas engines, a vacuumpressure actuated diaphragm, means consisting of opposed'flexiblediaphragm members the one secured centrally on a stationary member andthe other movable throughout its whole area, switch control means inconnection with said diaphragm consisting of a contact supported inconnection with the stationary side of said diaphragm andanother contactengageable therewith supported on the movable side of said diaphragm,and a substantially rigid walled vacuum tank in communication with andforming the stationary support for the stationary side of said diaphragmfor providing substantially constant pressure to said diaphragm means.

2. In an automatic ignition cutout apparatus for gas engines, a vacuumpressure actuated diaphragm, means consisting of opposed flexiblediaphragm members the one secured centrally on a stationary member andthe other movable throughout its whole area, switch control means inconnection with said diaphragm consisting of a contact supported inconnection with the stationary side of said diaphragm and anothercontact engageable therewith supported on the movable side of saiddiaphragm, a substantially rigid walled vacuum tank in communicationwith and forming the stationary support for the stationary side of saiddiaphragm for providing substantially constant pressure to saiddiaphragm means, and means for venting said vacuum tank to relieve thevacuum pressure when the vacuum pressure supply is inoperative.

- RALPH D. LACOE.

